I walk for my son, Callen. Before Callen was born, he was diagnosed with a complex heart defect - Tetralogy of Fallot. Tetralogy of Fallot is actually a combination of four heart defects. His case was further complicated by pulmonary atresia and MAPCAs (major aortopulmonary collateral arteries). Callen had his first open heart surgery at just two weeks old and a full repair at 4 months old. Complications from these procedures led to his being hospitalized for over half of his first year of life.
Despite all these challenges, he is an active and resilient little boy with a bright future ahead - thanks to his incredible doctors and care teams and organizations like the American Heart Association that fund research. Please consider supporting our cause by donating to our team or joining us for the American Heart Walk in Iowa City on May 3!